November 2017

Achieve Launches New ESSA State

Accountability Tool

Achieve recently released a new online

tracking tool that summarizes components of
states' accountability plans as submitted to
the U.S. Department of Education under the
requirements of the Every Student Succeeds
Act (ESSA). Achieve's new tool summarizes
states' goals for student achievement and
graduation rates, along with the other
indicators and weighting that states plan to
use for accountability purposes. This tool also
allows for users to compare states'
accountability metrics. Take a look to see
what's in your state's accountability plan.

The Power of Teacher Expectations

Education Next published a study examining

the ways in which racial bias on the part of
educators hinders student attainment. The
study found that college completion rates
are systematically higher for students whose
teachers had higher expectations for them.
More troublingly, researchers also found that
white teachers, who comprise the vast
majority of American educators, have far
lower expectations for black students than
they do for similarly situated white students.
This evidence suggests that to raise student
attainment, particularly among students of
color, elevating teacher expectations,
eliminating racial bias, and hiring a more
diverse teaching force are worthy goals.

Read More »

Leveraging ESSA: Shining a Spotlight on K-12 and Higher

Education Alignment

A new report from Higher Ed for Higher Standards, in partnership with

the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), National
Association of System Heads (NASH), and State Higher Education
Executive Officers Association (SHEEO), found that 48 states and the
District of Columbia included at least one of the recommended K-12/
higher education alignment strategies included in Leveraging ESSA -
validating college-ready standards and aligned assessments, vertically
aligning K-12 and higher education goals, holding schools
accountable for college and career preparation, and supporting
student transitions into postsecondary - with 10 states demonstrating
significant alignment by including three or more of the recommended
strategies. These states can and should serve as a model for others
seeking to build and expand activities to support student transitions
from high school into postsecondary.

Read More »

Educator Policies the Every Student Succeeds Act

The Hunt Institute recently released a brief
examining the evolution of research around
the impact of teachers and state policy
experimentation on how to measure
teacher effectiveness. The brief traces
differing policies from the original 2001
provisions of No Child Left Behind to ESSA,
which refrains from being prescriptive on
how states choose to address this question
but offers several opportunities for
innovation and experimentation.

Read More »

From Education Week: Growing Number of States Embrace

Career Education

"After years of focusing intensely on college readiness, states are

turning their attention to students' futures as workers, enacting a flurry
of laws and policies designed to bolster career education and
preparation."

Read More »

Achieve's ESSA State Accountability Tool

shows that

11 states
are using a measure of "on track to graduate"
as part of their state accountability plans.

Read More »
 All students should graduate from high school
ready for college, careers, and citizenship.

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